Day 2 Open Sessions

9:30 AM

In this session, participants will learn about the benefits of arts integration and the difference between integrated and multidisciplinary units. We will view examples of successful arts integrated units that use Big Ideas and Principles of Possibility and were designed through parallel curriculum planning.

As content area experts we are responsible for teaching digital literacy and disciplinary literacy alongside our subject content. This session will outline some of the strategies and tools for implementing both of these concepts at a small scale, while creating a large impact on learning. We will also discuss, brainstorm, and share examples for alternative options of assessment in these types of environments. One project shared will be the use of TED Talks as a summative assessment for students.

Digital Storytelling- Screencasting from the Beginning to the Awards ShowPresenter: Ben Brazeau

Harness the power of Google Apps for Education GAFE to create a multitude of video projects. Give students a voice in your classroom, provide alternative methods to demonstrate mastery, and create opportunities for peer evaluation. In this session we will explore how to create Google presentations then amp it up with screencasting. You will also learn how to utilize Google forms as a platform for organizing and sharing student work. The workshop would be a show and share and then participants creating their own products.

Leadership and Identity: 10 C's of Awareness and Change for TeachersPresenter: Matt Nink

This session will give teachers two key tools to build community in their classrooms and the entire school community. We will have fun and engage in a conversation about how to build leadership in students and teachers for focusing our awareness about identity issues such as color, culture, character, class, and context. Then we will shift making positive change through the the tools of: confidence, courage, conflict, community, and commitment.

Mindfullness and Coping with Stress, Anxiety, and PressurePresenters: Kristen Csiacsek and Mikki Duran

Pressure, pressure, pressure...in the 21st century there is no escaping it. Practicing mindfulness is one way to help cope with everyday stress. Training the mind to focus and pay attention in a specific way can give someone the ability to concentrate better and reduce stress. Sound like something your students or you could use?!?! In this session you will learn more about what mindfulness is and different ways to bring mindfulness into your own life or into your classroom. An introduction to various tools and resources will allow you to easily start your journey to becoming more mindful.

Teachers are learners. Like all learners, teachers learn at different paces, and start in different places. Personalized PD meets all educators where they are, and seeks to help each individual move forward at their own pace, and toward their own, self-determined goals. Let’s have a conversation about moving away from one-time, one-size-fits-all professional development, and moving toward CHOICE (Constant progress, Honoring professionals, Ongoing learning, Individualized focus, Collaborative learning, Energizing experiences). We’ll share practical techniques to personalize and flip professional development, and the tools to make it happen.

Sketchnoting is a fun, visual, brain-friendly way to remember important ideas and make sense of them for others. In this session, you’ll learn some sketchnoting basics and best practices. You’ll learn how to create them digitally or on paper. You’ll also get a chance to create your first sketchnote!

Speaking and Listening Like a PiratePresenter: Sandy Otto

Are your students greeted by yawns and blank stares when presenting in class? Do they finish what they want to say, yet leave their audience in a state of confusion-wondering what they just heard? Then, you need to join this crew as we focus on speaking and listening like pirates. Pirates know how to heat up the grill before adding those tasty steaks. Pirates know how to season and tenderize their steaks to create mouthwatering, unforgettable flavors. If the coals start to die out, Pirates know how to stoke those embers and create an even brighter flame. Depending on the type of meat, Pirates know how to vary the number of coals to achieve just the right char. Why waste those prime cuts of meat by leaving them under seasoned, slapping them on a cold grill, or failing to cook them to perfection? Add passion and enthusiasm to your presentations (both in the preparation and the delivery), and help your students do the same. Speaking and Listening Like a Pirate...don't miss it! You will definitely leave this backyard barbecue feeling satisfied.

STEM - Diving into Underwater RoboticsPresenter: Nicola De Torre

Students use the design process to plan and build remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) that overcome underwater challenges. Experience design thinking and learn how to take underwater robots from an abstract idea to concrete construction. Learn about helpful apps and online platforms as well as traditional hands-on learning experiences. This project is a great example of how STEAM subjects purposefully align as students collaborate to overcome underwater challenges.

STEM - "Stratch" That Project!Presenter: Josh Gauthier

Coding is such a huge trend right now, but it can often be overwhelming to a teacher who has no programming experiencing (or even those that do) to find ways to integrate computational thinking skills into their classes. Enter Scratch, the block-based coding language that is flexible to the needs of any teacher. Join this session to see examples of how Scratch has been used in the general curriculum, such as Social Studies, Science, and Math, as well as some simple techniques that will enhance your experience with Scratch.

Think Small- Collaborations and Integrations Do Not Have to be Semester-long EventsPresenter: Bob Geniusz

Before coming to USM Bob Geniusz worked with dozens of schools designing many collaborative projects that used the arts to reduce the time needed to explore a subject, make a dry topic more exciting, and involve students on a higher level by addressing multiple intelligences. This workshop will include a presentation of several example projects and a discussion of how subjects can be integrated spontaneously and painlessly. This is an opportunity for everyone to share ideas.